History

1902 Census Act

President Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation
establishing the U.S. Census Bureau as a permanent agency
within the Department of the Interior in 1902.

From 1790 to 1840, the census was taken by marshals of the judicial districts. The Census Act of 1840 established a central office which became known as the Census Office. This office opened to conduct the census and closed once the office completed the publication of statistics.

On March 6, 1902 Congress enacted legislation creating a permanent Census Office within the Department of the Interior. On July 1, 1902, the U.S. Census Bureau officially "opened its doors" under the leadership of William Rush Merriam.

In 1903, the Census Office was moved to the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor. It remained within Commerce when Commerce and Labor split into separate departments in 1913.